A favorite among office workers in the Eastern District—a Thai boat noodle shop offering a variety of Thai street snacks

Text & Photos /Xiao Hu’s Dream Food Blog

[Dongmen Memorial Hall Station Eats – Ah Han Thai Boat Noodles] Recommendation Rating: ★★★★☆

Some friends have asked me, “Are there any authentic Thai dishes or Thai noodles in Taiwan?” To be honest, based on my four trips to Thailand, I’d say Thai food in Taiwan has been adjusted to suit local tastes—nothing unusual, as every country has its own dietary preferences. So, my usual reply is, “I don’t care about authenticity, nor do I know what that really means. For me, deliciousness is king.”

A good friend recently told me there’s a tasty Thai boat noodle shop that opened in the Eastern District. Intrigued, I went along for the experience. It’s located near the intersection of Zhongxiao and Yanji Streets—easy to find along the main road.

The shop is split into two sections: the right side is a restaurant specializing in Thai boat noodles, while the left sells Thai milk tea and other Thai-style iced drinks (available for takeaway).

Are 50 or 60 NT$ hand-shaken drinks considered cheap or expensive in the Eastern District? Honestly, I have no idea—I haven’t drunk them in years.

Our group of four ordered four different flavors. I still love Thai milk tea the most, though the sweetness is intentionally toned down to suit Taiwanese tastes—unlike the cloyingly sweet versions I had in Thailand that were almost lethal…

Business at the shop was fairly brisk around 1 PM on a weekday. For a newly opened eatery, that’s not bad. I wonder if the heat just makes people crave Thai food.

The condiments on the table really gave off that “back in Thailand” vibe, even if the little jars weren’t quite as high-end as those in Thai street stalls XD.

Thai boat noodles are a must-try street snack for many visitors to Thailand, especially at floating markets. I’d say most people who’ve been to Thailand have probably tried them. This shop offers four or five varieties—more than I’ve seen in Thailand XD.

At these prices in the Eastern District, it’s pretty affordable, and you’ve got air conditioning too. The dining environment is way better than your average street-side eatery.

I heard the low prices are what attract nearby office workers. And yes, you can also order those Thai drinks mentioned earlier to enjoy inside. Though whether you can just grab a drink and chill in the AC during afternoon tea time, I’m not sure XD.

Green Sauce Squid (150 NT$). Despite the name, the flavor is mainly Thai sour-spicy, but it’s balanced with plenty of basil, making it refreshingly appetizing. The squid has decent crispness and sweetness—pretty average—but what I loved most was the tangy, spicy, sweet sauce mixed with basil. Honestly, the squid itself didn’t matter much XD.

Shrimp Paste-Crusted Fried Pork Skin with Green Papaya (90 NT$). The pork skin is insanely crispy, fragrant, and delicious, paired with tangy-sweet shredded green papaya that adds moisture and cuts through the oiliness. An absolutely fantastic cold dish—I highly recommend it.

Creamy Spicy Pork Rice Noodles (110 NT$). Besides rice noodles, you can also choose from vermicelli, rice vermicelli, glass noodles, or MAMA instant noodles. For a main dish, this bowl has a pretty generous portion—quite affordable for Thai boat noodles, though of course not as cheap as in Thailand.

The noodles are wide and slightly soft but hit the spot for me. The pork and other ingredients like fish balls are all tasty, especially the radish slices that soak up the broth. Flavor-wise, it’s still predominantly sour and spicy, but milder than what I’ve had in Thailand. There’s also a hint of creamy richness that balances the heat—whether it’s authentic or not, I can’t say, but it’s definitely delicious.

We also ordered a dry noodle dish: Fish Sauce Spicy Seafood MAMA Noodles (160 NT$). The seafood includes shrimp and squid, paired with refreshing cherry tomatoes. It’s relatively spicy, with a tangy and subtly sweet fish sauce flavor—my favorite seasoning mix. The noodles were cooked to perfection, perfectly smooth. But if I could get just the noodles at a lower price, I’d love it even more =)

Compared to the boat noodles, I think I’m more into this shop’s fried items—especially the “Fried Fish Cakes.” They don’t have that classic crispy crunch of fried food; instead, they’re soft and oily. They might be slightly over-fried, but my taste buds insisted, “This is delicious!” It’s a weirdly addictive texture, though opinions will probably be divided XD.

The filling is mostly fish, but there might be some shrimp or other seafood mixed in. Dipped in the sweet-sour-spicy Thai sauce, it’s incredibly flavorful—highly recommended.

Fried Wontons (90 NT$). These are fried to a super crispy, slightly crunchy texture—also pretty tasty, though they might feel a bit greasy for those who dislike oil.

The filling is quite hearty, and the flavor is well-balanced. You can still taste the sweetness of the meat, making it a different texture and taste compared to the fish cakes.

The fried chicken wings are also good—just your standard flavor, but they’re golden brown rather than the burnt-black shade you often see in Thai street food, which makes me think the oil might be old XD.

Ah Han Thai Boat Noodles Specialty Shop
Address: 1F, No. 72-16, Yanji St., Da’an Dist., Taipei City
Phone: 02 8772-5226
Hours: 11:30 AM ~ 10:30 PM

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